I use to travel, a lot. Multiple times a year, different countries, long trips and short trips, all of which I did with relative ease. I started traveling at a very young age, the simplicity and near-comfort that I felt with the entire airport routine (regardless of my location) has been a part of my identity for most of my life. From being the one who knew all the tips and tricks for getting through different airports quickly to feeling elation at landing in every new city, I reveled in the energy and unexpected adventures of frequent travel. With my…
For the bent, broken, and busted bodies in this world
Tagged Migraines
Just a little movement
I didn’t realize that I was athletic until I got sick. Playing outside everyday and having sports integrated into my life was something I took for granted. I grew up in a rural place where there weren’t professional or academic sports teams. Everyone was just always outside doing activities. My dad grew up playing organized sports so our weekend, holiday, and after school activities always included tennis, volleyball, swimming, surfing, fishing, baseball, basketball, etc. As I grew older, my sports hobbies took a backseat to everything else. But, I could count on my athleticism to make me comfortable and useful…
Zebra looking for an umbrella
Having more than one disease complicates everything. Most of those diseases being rare and understudied turn those complications into catastrophes. Doctors don’t know what to do with you and they truly don’t care to try. When you are already suffering from a mystery, the last thing you want is for your doctor to quit helping. Sometimes that dismissal seals a sufferers decision to give up. It reinforces their anxieties and amplifies their pain. Along with hope, their motivation for life disappears. I asked for help everywhere. At first, I didn’t know what was happening to my body. My early symptoms…
A walk too far
I am currently staying in a place with good public transportation (by American standards). Not only are the metro stations abundant, the lines are also timely and run across the whole city. There is a stop half a block from my home that takes me to large grocery stores, banks, and other errand locations. Before planning my time here, I had to carefully analyze this urban layout. It had to meet my mobility requirements and provide enough amenities so that I could receive timely deliveries when I couldn’t leave the house. This overly planned style is not how I use…
When they ask, “What’s wrong with you?”
My officially diagnosed conditions and their medical definitions are as follows: Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) – Hypermobility type: “A group of disorders that affect connective tissues supporting the skin, bones, blood vessels, and many other organs and tissues. Defects in connective tissues cause the signs and symptoms of these conditions, which range from mildly loose joints to life-threatening complications”. National Institutes of Health Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS): “Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome is a condition that affects circulation. It involves the autonomic nervous system and sympathetic nervous system”. Cleveland Clinic Gastroparesis: “A disorder that slows or stops the movement of food from your stomach…
